AT&T data breach affects "nearly all" customers, Is Amazon Prime worth it?

July 15, 2024 | Read Online

Are you looking for a shorter commute? You may need to set your radius a little farther out. Think International. Find out more later in this email.

💵 Today’s Top Stories

AT&T Data Breach Affects “Nearly All” AT&T Cellular Customers

If you're an AT&T customer, you really need to read this! Read more.

Is Amazon Prime Worth It?

Amazon Prime costs a whopping $139 – enough to make Clark’s head spin. Ahead of Prime Day, the benefits are huge, including some you may not know about. Are they worth the sticker shock? Read more.

Is There an Affordable Way To Get Wi-Fi on a Cruise Ship?

Paying $175 a week for Wi-Fi on a cruise ship is “standard,” Clark says. Is there a way to get a deal? Or is there a workaround? Read more.

Sling TV Offers Free Streaming Option

Sling offers a FAST streaming option (free ad-supported streaming television). Find out what free content you can get by watching a few ads. Read more.

📣 Today’s Top News

🏠️ Today’s Current Mortgage Rates

According to Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage rates are 6.89% and 15-year rates are 6.17% as of July 11, 2024. The following chart shows the 30-year mortgage rate trend over the last year.

Refi Info | Mortgage Refi Calculator

🚗 Shortest Commutes By Country

Want a short commute to work? Try living in Europe.

AHTI Games researched daily commute times across the world. Don’t tell your friends who live in New York or Los Angeles. But the U.S. features one of the fastest average commutes in the world at just 26 minutes.

Here is the full top 10:

1. Denmark: 17 minutes
2. Sweden: 20 minutes
3. Switzerland: 24 minutes
4. Norway: 25 minutes
5. France: 25 minutes
6. United States: 26 minutes
7. Austria: 27 minutes
8. Netherlands: 28 minutes
9. Luxembourg: 29 minutes
10. Germany: 40 minutes

The same dataset revealed that the Swiss earn an average monthly salary of $6,150 on 35 hours of work a week. That’s $40.55 an hour. By comparison, U.S. workers don’t make nearly as much at $29.13 an hour.

If your commute is half an hour or less, consider yourself blessed. You’re in line with some of the fastest commutes in the world.

📊 Stat of the Day

🏊️ +72%: The increase in the average retail price of a new in-ground swimming pool in the United States from 2019 ($43,000) to 2023 ($74,000). But demand has slowed. Last month, Google searches for pools were the lowest of any June on record. Pool company stocks also dropped sharply at the end of June.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

Save big during the Woot Garage Sale

Get this deal.

Here are the best early Prime Day deals you can get right now!

Get this deal.

See All of the Best Deals Today

🎙️ Podcast

YouTube video by Clark Howard: Save More, Spend Less

Full Show Clark Stinks! and Where Clark Fills His Prescriptions To Save Money

It’s time for "Clark Stinks!" Christa reads the latest "Clark Stinks!" submissions and Clark responds. Also, prescription drugs can be really expensive. Clark explains where he fills his prescription to save money – and the only reason he ever uses a pharmacy benefit manager.

Watch the Full Episode

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.